Microbial communities of the urogenital tract have long been recognised to play an important role in disease states. A revolution in methodological approaches is permitting the assessment of complex urogenital tract microbiota–host interactions and the metabolic and protein milieu of the mucosal interface. There is now great potential for significant advances in biomarker discovery and disease risk stratification, and for the elucidation of mechanisms underpinning the microbial community dynamics involved in urogenital tract pathology. Microbiota–host interactions in the female genital tract have a particular significance, because unlike in the male, there is direct communication between the external genitalia, the uterus and the peritoneal cavity. This review examines the microbial community composition at differing sites of the female urogenital tract and its relationship with health and disease. Key factors involved in the modulation of vaginal microbiome stability and structure, such as endocrine, immune and inflammatory pathways, are considered in the context of a woman's life cycle and disease pathogenesis.
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November 2017
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A representation of the intestinal microflora. There is growing interest in the role of the gut microbiome in human health and disease, and this issue of Emerging Topics in Life Sciences includes reviews that focus on microbiome–host interactions and host health (Basson and Wijeyesekera, pages 325–332), the role of the gut bacterium Bifidobacterium in modulating immune-linked diseases (O'Neill et al., pages 333–349) and the gut virome in humans (Ogilvie and Jones, pages 351–362).
Review Article|
November 30 2017
The human female urogenital microbiome: complexity in normality Available to Purchase
David A. MacIntyre;
1Parturition Research Group, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, U.K.
Correspondence: David MacIntyre ([email protected])
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Lynne Sykes;
Lynne Sykes
1Parturition Research Group, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, U.K.
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Phillip R. Bennett
Phillip R. Bennett
1Parturition Research Group, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, U.K.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
August 06 2017
Revision Received:
September 13 2017
Accepted:
September 29 2017
Online ISSN: 2397-8562
Print ISSN: 2397-8554
© 2017 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society and the Royal Society of Biology
2017
Emerg Top Life Sci (2017) 1 (4): 363–372.
Article history
Received:
August 06 2017
Revision Received:
September 13 2017
Accepted:
September 29 2017
Citation
Julian R. Marchesi, David A. MacIntyre, Lynne Sykes, Phillip R. Bennett; The human female urogenital microbiome: complexity in normality. Emerg Top Life Sci 30 November 2017; 1 (4): 363–372. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/ETLS20170042
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